Islamabad’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to recover a property that it had sealed in one of the accused Hafiz Muhammad Asghar cases, who was accused of money laundering and running an illicit cryptocurrency business and suspected of links with anti-state activities. Last week, he filed a petition stating one of his two properties being sealed by the FIA was illegally occupied.
However, when ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra summoned the report from the investigating officer of FIA, the court declared the occupation illegal as the house was already officially sealed. Thus, Judge Sipra ordered FIA to seal the house once again and regain its possession.
Asghar’s case began after FIA registered an FIR against him on August 14, 2021. The FIR accused Asghar of money laundering and running unauthorized cryptocurrency operations. Asghar also reportedly operated sleeping cells for foreign intelligence agencies. During his house search, the officials allegedly confiscated Rs. 48.29 million along with 30 gold bricks each weighing 10 tola in quantity as well as several laptops. On November 8, 2021, ATC Judge M. Ali Warraich then permitted the FIA to seal Asghar’s two properties in Islamabad’s Ghouri Town.
One further development here is that, whereas an FIR-No. 790/24 is recorded on 15 May 2024, stating yet again the property has remained under illegal occupation. And that, in 2021, during the remand of Asghar, the constables of the FIA Anti-Terrorism Wing, Ehtesham and Farman Ayyaz, were held while giving allegedly unauthorized access to his laptop and internet.
It thus adds to the intricacy attached to this high-profile case. The final decisions by the court reflect the continuous troubles witnessed over this case as government efforts to uphold the rule of law and deter the diversion of sealed assets.
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